Community Corner
Ferry Ridership Triples at Jack London Square
Ferry officials said the boats carried three times the normal number of passengers.
By Bay City News Service
The San Francisco Bay Ferry saw three times its normal ridership at Jack London Square in Oakland this morning (Monday) because of the BART strike, a ferry spokesman said.
The ferry offered departures every 45 minutes from Alameda and Oakland to San Francisco this morning.
The busiest period at the Jack London Square dock was around 7 a.m. when the average wait time to board a boat was about 40 minutes, SF Bay Ferry spokesman Ernest Sanchez said.
The crowd had thinned by 9:30 a.m.
Long lines, roped off by yellow tape and traffic cones, moved quickly late this morning as boats arrived.
Extra ferry employees were on hand to answer questions, provide schedules, and offer directions to some commuters unaccustomed to getting from Jack London Square to downtown Oakland.
The San Francisco Bay Ferry, which also serves South San Francisco and Vallejo, was operating 11 vessels this morning — three more than on a normal Monday. One ferry was redirected from the North Bay to provide extra service from Oakland to San Francisco, ferry officials said.
A free shuttle was provided today for those traveling from various spots in Alameda to the Alameda-Main Street Ferry.
The parking lots are full at the docks, and Sanchez advised riders to get dropped off rather than drive to the docks.
Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
'Like' Piedmont Patch on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter @PiedmontPatch
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
